New Jersey Primary Features Crowded Governor’s Race/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ New Jersey voters head to the polls Tuesday to choose party nominees for governor and the state Assembly. With Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy term-limited, both parties face competitive primaries. The race tests national party influence and voter sentiment ahead of the November election.
New Jersey Primary 2025 Quick Looks
- Both Democratic and Republican primaries for governor feature crowded, competitive fields.
- Democratic contenders include U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Mikie Sherrill, and several mayors.
- Trump has endorsed Republican Jack Ciattarelli, a 2021 nominee.
- All 80 General Assembly seats are on the ballot; 25 districts have contested primaries.
- New Jersey and Virginia are the only states with 2025 gubernatorial elections.
- Turnout and early voting trends favor Democrats in key counties.
- The AP will declare winners only when outcomes are mathematically certain.
- Recounts are rare and must be requested and paid for by candidates.
New Jersey Primary Features Crowded Governor’s Race
Deep Look
New Jersey 2025 Primary: Crowded Governor’s Race and Down-Ballot Battles Highlight Tuesday’s Vote
WASHINGTON — With Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy term-limited, New Jersey voters will head to the polls Tuesday to choose party nominees for governor and fill all 80 seats in the state’s General Assembly. The outcome will help shape the political narrative heading into November and offers a fresh test of national influence in a state where gubernatorial control frequently swings between parties.
The state is one of only two — along with Virginia — holding a gubernatorial election this year, adding weight to the outcome. Though Democrats dominate federal and legislative offices, the governor’s mansion has often changed hands. No party has held the governorship for more than two consecutive terms since 1961.
The Democratic Primary: A Battle Among Heavyweights
The Democratic field features high-profile candidates from across the state, including:
- U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer
- U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill
- Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop
- Newark Mayor Ras Baraka
- Former state Senate President Steve Sweeney
- NJEA President and former Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller
Gottheimer leads slightly in fundraising with $9.1 million raised, followed closely by Sherrill and Fulop at $8.9 million each. Immigration has emerged as a major issue after federal charges against Baraka were dropped last month following his protest outside an immigration detention center.
The Republican Primary: Trump’s Endorsement and Familiar Names
On the Republican side, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli is making his third bid for governor. He nearly unseated Murphy in 2021 and now has the backing of President Donald Trump, who endorsed him in May and headlined a virtual rally this week.
Also running:
- State Sen. Jon Bramnick (a known Trump critic)
- Former Mayor Mario Kranjac
- Radio host Bill Spadea
- Contractor Justin Barbera
Trump’s involvement has nationalized the race and elevated Ciattarelli’s campaign, despite his 2015 comments questioning Trump’s fitness for office.
Geographic Voting Trends Matter
Counties like Essex, Bergen, Middlesex, and Hudson play an outsized role in Democratic primaries, especially with cities like Newark boosting turnout. In contrast, GOP primary strength is rooted in Ocean, Morris, and Monmouth counties, where Ciattarelli dominated in 2021.
In that race, he topped the vote in all 21 counties and nearly doubled the next-highest finisher.
Assembly Races Also on the Ballot
All 80 seats in the General Assembly are up for grabs, though only 25 districts have competitive primaries. Each district elects two candidates. Democrats currently hold a significant majority and are expected to retain control.
In District 35 (Bergen and Passaic counties), voters will also cast ballots in a special state Senate primary, but both parties’ races are uncontested.
How and Who Can Vote
- Only registered party members may vote in their party’s primary.
- Unaffiliated voters can choose a party primary to vote in, which enrolls them in that party.
- As of Sunday, New Jersey has 6.6 million registered voters:
- 37% Democrat (2.4 million)
- 25% Republican (1.6 million)
- 2.4 million unaffiliated
In 2021, just 6% of Democrats and 5% of Republicans turned out in the gubernatorial primaries.
Early Voting and Turnout Trends
Early voting has grown in popularity in recent cycles:
- In 2021, 38% of Democratic and 19% of Republican ballots were cast before Election Day.
- In 2023, those figures rose to 55% (D) and 29% (R).
As of Thursday morning, more than 248,000 Democratic and 91,000 Republican ballots had already been submitted.
How the AP Calls Races
The Associated Press does not project winners and only calls a race once there’s no statistical path for trailing candidates to catch up. The AP will report concessions or victory declarations but clarify when a call has not yet been made.
Recounts in New Jersey are rare, and the state has no automatic recount law. Candidates may request one and must pay for it unless the result is overturned.
Vote Counting Timeline
- Polls close at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday.
- In 2024’s presidential election, the first results came one minute after polls closed.
- Final tabulation for the night ended around 4:21 a.m. ET in Burlington County with 95% of votes counted.
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